² They had been watching Jesus' disciples. Some of the disciples did not wash their hands before they ate a meal. That is to say, they did not wash them in the right way. ³ (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat food until they have washed their hands carefully. They do this because of what their leaders taught them. ⁴ When they come from the market place, they always wash themselves carefully. Unless they do this, they do not eat anything. Their leaders also gave them rules about how they should wash cups, pots and metal bowls.)